By Mandy McFarland Editor
NAPPANEE — Just one day shy of the two-year anniversary of the F3 tornado that forever changed hundreds of lives, the community came together to show their support for one another and to help raise funds to spread the word that Nappanee is still in business.

The second annual Care and Share Benefit Auction took place Saturday, Oct. 17 at Borkholder Dutch Village. Both individuals and local businesses stepped up to donate items for the live auction and for the bid board. Price of admission was a bag of non-perishable groceries for the Family Christian Development Center and Open Door food pantries.
Today few scars remain from the Oct. 18, 2007 tornado, though wounds are just beginning to heal from what Mayor Larry Thompson and others in the community have dubbed the “economic tornado.” Funds raised during the auction will go into a second series of local TV commercials marketing Nappanee as a city that is still in business and still holding its own despite all it has been through.
“We’re really pleased with the number of bidders we have here today, and especially the support from the whole community” Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Larry Andrews said during the auction. “It’s benefiting everybody.”
Andrews went on to say that plans are in the works for the third annual event.
At 11 a.m. the auctioneer paused and the room grew still as Thompson said a quick prayer of thanks for the meal, then Care and Share Committee member Ron Bedward led the entire room in a singing of the hymn "Amazing Grace."
Just as soon as it stopped, the bidding started again, and many gathered crowded to the lunch table for a "haystack" meal.